Gentle action agitator



March 14, 1961 A. H. GERHARDT l GENTLE ACTION AGITATOR Original FiledMarch 8, 1956 United States Patent O i' GENTLE ACTION AGITATOR Andrew H.Gerhardt, Herrin, Ill., assigner to Borg- Wamer Corporation, Chicago,Ill., a corporation of Illinois Original application Mar. 8, 1956, Ser.No. 570,335. Divided and this application Jan. 14, 1960, Ser. No. 7,505

This application is a division of application, Serial No. 570,335, iiledMarch l8, 1956, and issued as U.S. Patent No. 2,927,449 on March `8,1960.

This invention relates to washing machines and in particular to washingmachine agit-ators of the type which create gentle or light agitation offabrics during the washing cycle.

Agitators commonly in use in washing machines generally include a columnor post member having a plurality of radially projecting blades or finsformed integral with or otherwise secured to the post. The agitatorfrequently is flared at the bottom and thus overlays a major portion ofthe bottom wall of the clothes receiving receptacle Within which thelagitator is disposed.

Agitators of the above general description are usually rotated about thelongitudinal axis of the column or post, first in one direction and theni-n the opposite direction, so as to create a considerable agitation orswirling motion when the agitator is surrounded by wash water andclothing. It is well known that in laundering synthetic fabrics it isadvisable to avoid excessive agitation or excessive working.Conventional agitating devices of the above class frequently work thewash load excessively and to the extent that synthetic fabrics shrink,felt or mat rendering them useless as articles of clothing.

Accordingly, it is ya particular object of the present invention toprovide a gentle action agitator suitable for laundering syntheticfabrics.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a gentleaction agitator which may be mounted upon and driven by a conventionalblade type agitator.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a gentleaction agitator which substantially encloses the agitator blades.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a gentleaction agitator which m-ay be readily inserted or removed from theclothes receiving receptacle of a laundry machine without disturbing theexisting agitator means.

A Washing machine embodying certain principles of the present inventionmay include an oscillatable agitator having a plurality of -radiallyextending blades and a gen erally bell-shaped casing overlaying theagitator and formed with grooves, said grooves connecting mating bladesso that upon oscillation of the agitator the casing is also oscillated.

Other objects and features of the invention will become more apparentfrom the succeeding detailed description of specific embodiments thereofwhen read in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a washing machine with which the presentinvention may be associated and showing one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the gentle action agitator of Fig. 1 withportions of the agitator broken away to show the configuration of theinterior grooves;

Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of the gentle action agitator; and

Patented Mar. 14, 1961 Fig. 4 shows a still further embodiment of theinvention wherein the lower portion of the bell-shaped gentle actionagitator is slotted permitting portions of the conventional agitatorblade to project through the slots.

In the iFig. 1 embodiment of the invention there is shown a washingmachine casing A, having a control panel B, a hinged access door C, aclothes receiving receptacle D and a transmission housing Esubstantially enclosing and forming the bottom wall of the receptacle.

The clothes receiving receptacle is supported by the transmissionhousing E by a depending sleeve not shown. Since the present inventionis directed to agitator devices for' a washing machine, it is deemedunnecessary to describe the laundry machine in detail except wherenecessary to show the function, operation and structural details of thegentle action agitator.

Referring now to Figs. l and 2, there is shown an `agitator indicatedgenerally by the reference numeral 10 supported upon a shaft 11projecting upwardly from the transmission casing E. The agitator, formedwith four radially projecting ns or blades .15, is keyed to the shaft 11in 'a suitable manner. The shaft and the agitator are formed withcomplementary, tapered, hexagonal sections as at 12 and a nut 13threadedly engaging the shaft is operable to draw theagitator and theshaft together axially so as to make a. snug lit along the respectivehexagonal sections.

In a Well known manner the shaft 11 is caused to rotate alternatelyabout its longitudinal axis; first in a clockwise and then in acounterclock-wise direction so as to cause the agitator 10 to oscillateabout its vertical axis.

As stated earlier, it is frequently desirable to reduce or minimize thework performed by the bladed agitator particularly when washing tinesynthetic fabrics. Heretofore it has been the practice to operate theagitator at a reduced speed or to remove the agitator and replace itwith one whose blade or fin structure is less pronounced. Obviously, theprovision of means for changing the speed of agitation is relativelyexpensive and involves either a two speed power means for the laundrymachine or the introduction of a gear change device in the transmission;both involve an increase in cost. The alternative scheme of replacingthe bladed agitator with one which rcreates less violent turbulence isdisadvantageous wherein frequently the housewife is unable to remove theconventional agitator. y

Recognizing these difculties the present invention contemplates theprovision of a casing or gentle action agitator indicated generally bythe reference numeral 14 being positioned upon the conventional agitator10 and in a driving connection therewith. For example, in the embodimentof the invention shown in Figs. l and 2, a generally bell-shaped casing16 having four ribs or grooves 17 formed therein is shown positionedupon the agitator 10 so that the mouth 18 of the casing rests upon theconventional agitator as at 19.

It is to be noted that the grooves 17 make a driving connection with theblades 15 by virtue of the reception of the marginal regions 2li of theblades into the grooves. Obviously, the casing or gentle agitator 16,although making a driving connection with the conventional agiv thebladed agitator and has been found effective in creating a gentleagitation.

It is apparent that oscillation of the gentle action agitator isetective to provide substantially reduced turbulence thus reducing theamount of work performed upon ne synthetic fabrics during a washingcycle.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 3 the coaction betweenthe bladed agitator and the ribs 17a is substantially the same as thestructure shown in Fig. l; however, the casing .16a does not fullyenclose the conventional agitator. The driving connection is made by theengagement of the ribs 17a with the marginal regions 21 of the lowerportion of the blades 15.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 4 it is apparent thatthe lower portion of the bell-shaped gentle action agitator is slottedas at 25 to permit th marginal portions 21 of the conventional agitatorto project therethrough. Obviously, the lower portion of the gentleaction agitator according to the embodiment of Fig. 4 may be moldedaccording to a variety of patterns.

to permit the marginal portions 21 to project to varying degrees asdesired.

It is to be understood that a particular feature of the presentinvention resides in the cooperation between the conventional agitatorand the gentle action agitations to produce a new and useful washingdevice.

It is anticipated that various arrangements and representations of thepresent invention may be undertaken without departing from the spiritand scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a clothes washing machine, a receptacle adapted to contain washwater and clothes, an oscillatable agitator in said receptacle andhaving a plurality of radially extending blades for creating aconsiderable agitation of the clothes and the water, means forsubstantially reducing the action of the agitator comprising animperforate casing detachably mounted on said agitator and completelyenclosing the blades of said agitator, said casing being substantiallysmooth over its entire periphery and having hollow portions projectingoutwardly thereof with marginal portions of the radially extendingblades being received within said hollow portions for providing adriving connection `between the agitator Iand the casing.

2. In a clothes washing machine, a receptacle adapted to contain washwater and clothes, an oscillatable agitator in said receptacle andhaving a plurality of radially extending blades for creating aconsiderable agitation of the clothes and the water, and means forsubstantially reducing the action of the agitator comprising anirnperforate casing detachably mounted on said agitator and completelyenclosing the blades of said agitator, said casing being substantiallysmooth over its entire periphery and having hollow ribs projectingoutwardly thereof and defining grooves extending axially of said casingfor receiving marginal portions of the radially extending blades forproviding a driving connection between the agitator and the casing.

3. In a clothes washing machine, a receptacle adapted to contain washwater and clothes, an oscillatable agitator in said receptacle andhaving a plurality of radially extending blades for creating aconsiderable agitation of the clothes and the water, each of said bladeshavinga curved marginal portion, and means for substantially reducingthe action of the agitator comprising an imperforate bell-shaped casingdetachably mounted on said agitator and completely enclosing the bladesof said agitator, said casing being substantially smooth over its entireperiphery and having hollow ribs projecting slightly outwardly thereofand defining interiorly located grooves conforming to and receiving thecured marginal portions of the radially extending blades for providing adriving connection between the agitator and the casing.

4. In a clothes washing machine, a receptacle adapted to contain washwater and clothes, an oscillatable agitator in said receptacle landhaving a flaring base portion provided with a plurality of radiallyextending blades for creating a considerable agitation of the clothesand the water, means for substantially reducing the action of theagitator comprising an imperforate bell-shaped casing detachably mountedon said agitator and completely enclosing the vblades of said agitator,said casing being substantially smooth over its entire periphery andhaving its bell-mouth engaging the aring base portion of said agitator,and provided with hollow ribs projecting slightly outwardly therefromand defining interior grooves for receiving marginal portions of theradially extending blades for providing a driving connection between theagitator land the casing.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,745,177 Markley Jan. 28, 1930 2,119,677 Labisky June 7, 1938 2,298,624Labisky Oct. 13, 1.942

FOREIGN PATENTS 5311,147 Great Britain Dec. 30, 1940

